A26923:588
An end of doctrinal controversies which have lately troubled the churches
An end of doctrinal controversies which have lately troubled the churches by reconciling explication without much disputing. Written by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for John Salusbury, 1691
Chapter 12 › Section 5: Of the Law or Covenant of Grace in the last Edition, or the Gospel.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
§. 24. Because the Scriptures contain both in Words and Sense, much more than the Essentials of Christianity, and so more than is of absolute necessity to Salvation; many a million may be saved, that understand not all that is in the Scriptures; nay, no man on Earth understandeth it perfectly: And he that understandeth and receiveth the Essentials, shall be saved, though he were ignorant of a thousand particular Texts.
§. 24. Because the Scriptures contain both in Words and Sence, much more than the Essentials of Christianity, and so more than is of absolute necessity to Salvation; many a million may be saved, that understand not all that is in the Scriptures; nay, no man on Earth understandeth it perfectly: And he that understandeth and receiveth the Essentials, shall be saved, though he were ignorant of a thousand particular Texts.
§. 25. Therefore it is that the Church hath ever selected the great and most necessary Truths, and taught Children and Catechised Persons these before the rest, by way of Catechism; of which the foresaid Creed, Lords Prayer, and Decalogue are the Sum, and the Sacramental Covenant is that Sum yet more contracted. And it hath not been the Churches way to teach Children or Converts the Bible over in order indifferently, without selecting first the Marrow out of the whole, which the Ignorant cannot do for themselves.
§. 26. Besides the Method or Order of the Scripture books, there is specially to be studied by those that will be more perfect than the rude• fort, the true Method of the Body of Doctrine, contained in all the Scriptures: For all the parts ⟨p. 147⟩of that Doctrine have that Place, Order, and Respect each to other, as maketh up the Beauty and Harmony which is in the whole. And even in the Covenants, the Creed, Lords Prayer, and Decalogue, there is a most excellent Order and Method, above all that is found in Aristotle, or any humane Writers, though, alas! too few perceive it.